Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and policy response on access to and utilization of reproductive, maternal, child and adolescent health services in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

A cross-sectional qualitative study conducted in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia assessed how the COVID-19 pandemic and related policy responses affected access to and utilization of reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health services. Through 63 in-depth interviews with women of reproductive age, frontline health workers, and government representatives, the study found that services such as antenatal care, delivery, family planning, and immunization were most disrupted. Despite some mitigation efforts, the findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen health systems, particularly supply chains and community-level service delivery, to ensure continuity of care during health crises.

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